Circular knitting machine of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type



Dec.'22, 1936. A. w. KENT 2,065,469

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed May 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet l 79 b2 z/ mier Dec. 22, 1936. A. w. K ENT CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY CPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 iled May 27, 1956 jnuenfor OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed May 27, 1936' 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. w. KENT I CI 0 R KN'ITTI'NFMACHINE OF THE DOUBLE Dec. 22, 1936.

W. KENT CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 22, 1936. A. w. KENT 2,065,459

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY CPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed May 2'7, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 In venian Dec. 22, 1936. A. w. KENT 2,065,469

I CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed May 27, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 4W 1% VenZ'orr Z4;

Dec. 22, 1936. A. w. KEN 2,065,469 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY CPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed May 27, 1936 a Sheets-Shed? Dec. 22, 1936. A. w. KENT 2,065,469

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed May 27, 1936 8 SheetsSheet 8 Patented 7 Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES CIRCULAR. KNITTING MACHINE OF THE- DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED CYLINDER TYPE NEEDLE Alfred Woodward Kent, Groby, England, assignor to Wildt and Company, Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application May 27, 1936, Serial No. 82,109 In Great Britain June 6, 1935 21 Claims.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines of the double end-to-end needle cylinder type, and especially such machines having superposed rotary needle cylinders with doubleended latch needles operable by means of sliders, as exemplified in British Patent No. 24,290 of 1912. I

The object of the present invention is to improve machines of the type concerned by combining therewith patterning mechanism of the kind comprising individually movable thread guides for lapping or wrapping threads around predetermined needles, such threads being additional to the main yarn or yarns ordinarily supplied, and selecting means for producing relative movement between the needles and thread guides for the purpose of obtaining lap or wrap striping or embroidery effects, such, for example, as vertical or diagonal stripes, clocks, broken, zig-zag and various other eifects.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of a machine of the superposed rotary needle cylinder type equipped with double-ended latch needles operable by means of sliders with which a constructional form of patterning mechanism of the kind herein described is combined.

Figure 2 shows one of the thread guides em-y -pioyed in this pattern mechanism.

Figure 3 is a side view on an enlarged scale of a thread guide and an associated needle in their normal positions.

. Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 3 showing the various stages in the lapping or wrapping of a thread around the needle.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional .view taken on the line VIIVI[ of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 1 showing more par ticularly the means employed for imparting the radial movement to the thread guides.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 8 illustrating the manner in which selected thread guides are retracted.

Figure 10 is a somewhat similar view which is taken on the line X--X of Figure 8 and represents a vertically movable cam for nullifying the selective action of the pattern drum or equivalent means on the thread guides.

Figure 11 is a developed view of the nullifying and retracting cams and 01' cams for moving selected guides slightly towards the needles to be lapped or wrapped to facilitate the lapping or wrapping action.

Figure 12 is a rear elevational view of the upper part of the machine showing mechanism whereby the thread guides can be shogged laterally over one or more of the needles.

Figure 13 is a sectional plan view of the shogging mechanism taken on the line XlIL-XIII of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an elevational view of the driving member of the said mechanism.

Figure 15 illustrates the upper end of a sleeve which is keyed to the cylindrical carrier for the 10 thread guides and shows mechanism for lifting and lowering the sleeve for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of said sleeve and shows in addition means, other 15 than those shown in Figure l, for guiding the threads from the source of supply to the thread uides.

Figure 17 is an inverted plan view of the feeder block of the ,machine and an associated thread guard hereinafter described.

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 12, of a half round cam for operating the said thread guard.

Figure 19 is a further elevational view of the upper part of the machine showing the aforesaid feeder block in position, together with various operating means hereinafter described in detail.

Figure 20 is a detail elevational view showing alternative means for operating the nullifying cam shown in Figures 8, 10 and 11.

Figure 21 is a detail sectional view showing a modification hereinafter to be described.

Figure 22 is a detail view showing a thread guide co-operating with one of said deflecting elements.

Figure 23 shows one of the thread guides employed in the last mentioned form of the invention.

Figure 24 is a development of the knitting cam system which is preferably used in conjunction with the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 21, 22 and 23.

Referring to the drawings, in the patterning mechanism to be described with reference to Figures 1 to 20,.each of the thread guides I has a thread holding extremity 2 formed at right angles to the main body portion and this extremity is laterally bent or cranked, as shown more clearly in Figure 7. A thread receiving hole 3 is provided in the outer end of the extremity 2. In addition the said'guide or feeder is fulcrumed at :r, i. e. between its ends, and has one or more frontal butts such as l, hereinafter referred to 55 as pressure butts, on the opposite side of the fulcrum to the thread guiding extremity 2, and a main butt 5 which projects forwards at or near the same end. The longitudinally tricked cylindrical carrier 6 for the guides I is mounted above and concentrically with the circle of the needles 1 to which the additional threads a are to be supplied. The thread receiving extremities 2 of the guides project radially from the carrier 6 at the lower end thereof (see Figures 1 and 8) A vertical bank of selector levers or cams 8 is provided for action selectively upon the pressure butts 4 aforesaid, above the fulcrum points r, so that selected guides I are pressed inwards at their upper ends and are projected at their lower ends, as represented at the right-hand side of Figure 1. A track or like cam 9 is provided for action upon the main butts 5 of the guides seriatim in such a manner that these are slightly lowered and then raised. The cam 91, as shown clearly in Figure 11, is made up of two sections 9a and 9b and extends on either side of the selecting point S between the points A and B (see Figure 8). Each of the cam sections is formed with a longitudinal track I 0 for reception of the butts 5 of the guides and with bevelled edges II to provide a lead in for said butts. The section 901 is mounted in an extension I2 of the cam box I3 in such a manner as to be capable of adjustment in a vertical direction, while the section 8b is rigidly secured to a bracket 14 (Figure 8) attached to the top plate or like upper part I5 of the machine. The section 9c, moreover, is positioned slightly below the section 912 and is formed with a downward projection IS, the arrangement being such that immediately a selected guide (such as it, Figure 11) passes the selecting point S in the direction of the arrow, the butt 5 thereof rides down an inclined side of the projection I6 with the result that said guide is slightly lowered, i. e. moved slightly towards the associated needle to be lapped or wrapped, for the purpose of facilitating the lapping or wrapping action. The guides are repositioned in a longitudinal direction before they again reach the selecting point by means of the bevelled edges II. The thread guiding extremity 2 of each guide is laterally bent or cranked so that said guide is deflected laterally as the result of the contact of the laterally bent or cranked extremity with the adjacent needle. 1 during the radial movement. Each thread guide has an upwardly extending butt l1 at the upper end and, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 11, a retracting cam I8 mounted in the cam box extension I2 is proattached to the bracket Il, may be provided to ensure that all the thread guides I are fully retracted before they pass the selecting point S.

It may be mentioned here that normally the/ lower ends of the guides I occupy a position just above the needle hooks at the selecting point, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the relative positions of a guide and its associated needle I immediately after said guide has been projected by one of the selector cams 8. It will be observed that at this stage the thread a to be lapped or wrapped passes on one side only of the needle. Now, before the guide is retracted by the cam It, the associated needle rises (see Figure 5) and then the guide is retracted taking its yarn with it, during which movement the laterally bent or cranked extremity 2 of the guide engages the side of the said needle whereupon the guide (and may be also the needle) yields or is deflected laterally as indicated at y in Figure '7. After passing the needle 1 on the return movement, the thread guiding extremity 2 springs back to its normal position (see 2, Figure '7) with the result that the thread a. is lapped or wrapped round the said needle. as seen in Figure 6,- and is formed into a stitch when the needle next knits.

The aforesaid selecting leversor cams 8 in this constructional form of the invention are operated selectively by means of a drum 20 having pins or pegs such as 2| pre-arranged therein according to pattern requirements and racked round by cam actuated pawl and ratchet mechanism. In the specific arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 8, the said cam actuatedpawl and ratchet mechanism is of the character described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the specication of my prior British Patent No. 443,736. As will be seen, two ratchet wheels 22 and 23 having teeth of the same pitch are oppositely arranged on andrigidly attached to the drum 20, and two clawkers 24 and 25 disposed so as to correspond with the opposite arrangement of the ratchet wheels are provided. These clawkers are controlled by springs such as 26 to impart the idle strokes to the clawkers and for imparting the operative strokes to the latter there is provided a common actuator in the form of a reciprocatory slide 21 which is mounted for movement horizontally in the top of the casing of the drum 20. The outer end of the actuator is formed with two open-ended slots 21a and adjusting screws 28 are provided whereby adjustment of the clawkers on the side can be effected. At its other end the reciprocatory slide 21 is fitted with a roller 29 adapted to co-operate with a cam 30 screwed to the underside of a gear ring 3| which latter'is arranged to drive the cylindrical carrier 6 at the same speed as the top cylinder 32 as hereinafter more fully described. In order to accommodate 1 larly to and fro between the ratchet wheels 22 v and 23. Thus by movement of the bluff member or guardin one direction or the other either of the clawkers can be allowed to engage its respective ratchet wheel while the other clawker is blurred. The bluff member or guard is provided with a lug "a so as to enable it to be controlled by timing mechanism of any usual character.

The cylindrical carrier 5 for the thread guides I is rotatably mounted upon a sleeve 35 depending from a top plate or like upper part I5 of the machine, and is driven by means of toothed gearing from a suitable shaft 35 at a speed equal to the cylinder speed. when it is desired to shog the circular series of thread guides the driving gear for the said carrier includes a pinion 31 freely mounted on the beforementioned shaft, and has in association therewith a driving member 35 which is keyed on the shaft but is adapted for axial adjustment automatically and-to act between parts or members, such as screws, on the pinion for the purpose of imparting independent turning movement to the pinion as well as driving it so that the carrier 5 for the thread guides is shogged one or more times in one direction or the other to an extent equal to the pitch of the needies, according to pattern requirements. Conveniently, and as illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14, the driving member 38 consists of a reel or like member slidably keyed at 39 on the driving shaft 36 and furnished with opposed stepped cams or like formations 40 and 4! adapted respectively to be engaged by rollers 42 and 43 on a. pattern controlled sliding block 44 which is movable to difierent positions radially with respect to the axis of the shaft 36 so that the reel '38 is moved axially on the shaft in one direction or the other to difierent positions according to the position to which the sliding block is moved. This reel 38 is in frictional engagement with the shaft 36 so that when thus moved it will be held by such frictional engagement in the position to which it has been moved. The cam 40 is secured by means of screws 40a to the underside of a flange 38a formed at the top of the reel, while the cam M is at-,

tached by screws Ma to the top of a flange 33b formed at the bottom of said reel. Mounted on the top of the flange 38a is a tongue or like projection 45 having inclined or stepped edges Ma, and the pinion 31 is furnished with opposed screws 46 for contact with the stepped edges of said tongue or like part so that the latter not only transmits the drive from the shaft 36 to the pinion, but when the reel 38 is moved axially it also turns the pinion in relation to the shaft in one direction or the other to an extent determined by the stepped edges 45a and the amount of axial movement imparted to the reel 3%.

The sliding block 44 is mounted for movement horizontally in the top of a bracket ll! clamped to a vertically disposed rod 48 secured at its upper end in the top plate It. The inner end of the sliding block is formed with an extension Ma on which the rollers 42 and 43 are mounted so as to be located in different vertical and horizontal planes. The corresponding steps of the cams M and ii are off-set with respect to each other in a radial direction on the reel to suit the positions a of the rollers 42 and 43 so that each is enabled to I act on the respective cam as shown more clearly in Figure 12. Thesliding block M1 is prevented from displacement laterally from the bracket d'l by a plate 49 secured to one side of said bracket and is normally urged towards the reel at in such a way as to ensure that each of the rollers engages a step on the adjacent cam by means of a spring 50 attached at one end to the outer end of the sliding block and at the other end to the plate 49. In the typical example shown in the drawings, the sliding block 44 is adapted to be controlled i. e. moved to different positions radially with respect to the axis of the shaft 36, by means of a separate series of pins or pegs 5i suitably prearranged in the same drum 2!! from which the thread guides I are controlled. For this purpose the pins or pegs 5! are prearranged for action upon a part 52a of alever 52 which lever is pivoted on a bracket 53 attached to the underside of the casing of the drum 2!! (see Figure l) and connected with the sliding block 44 by a rod 54. The end of the rod 54 remote from the lever 52 is attached to one arm of a small bell-crank lever 55 the other arm of which latter is adapted to engage a recess or gap 44b in the sliding block 44. The bell-crank lever is pivoted on an outwardly extending arm 41a on the bracket 41. The arrangement jus described is such that the lever 52 is moved positively by the pins or pegs 5| one way or the other with the result that the sliding block is moved in one direction or the other for the purpose described. As will be seen, the lever 52, as viewed in end elevation in Figure 1, is of U formation and this enables one limb of the lever to be pivoted to an upright part of the bracket 53 on the outside of the casing of the drum 2!) and the part 52a to be positioned within and parallel to the wall of said casing.

Each of the screws 45 associated with the pinion 3! is carried by-a slidable bar 56 mounted for adjustment inwards and outwards in relation to the axis of the pinion so as to enable the degree of turning movement effected by a predetermined adjustment of the sliding block M to be varied. 1

Referring to Figures 12' and 14 it will be seen that the upper edges of the slidable bars 56 are received in longitudinal guideways din. formed in the underside of the pinion 31 and are adapted to be clamped to the sides of a rectangular block Zllb formed integrally with said pinion by means of screws 57. To permit of the lengthwise adjustment of the slidable bars 56 the latter are formed with longitudinal slots tho-one for each screw 51!.

The threads a may be supplied to the thread guides i from a number of bobbins, cones, spools or reels, such as 5%, carried by a bracket or like structure. This bracket or like structure is preferably arranged co-axially with the cylindrical carrier t. According to the illustrative embodiment of the invention the bobbins are arranged in tiers about a rod 59 which extends vertically upwards from, and is mounted at its lower end in the top of a bobbin bracket M. For the sake of convenience only one tier of bobbins has been shown in Figure 1. The bobbins of each tier are placed on spindles M carried by a circular support 62 having radial arms ht formed integrally with an inner ring M which is associated with a hub rigidly secured on the rod 5%. The threads a pass from the bobbins 5% through perforations in the ring M and the top of the bobbin bracket W and may be led to the guides II through any suitable guiding means arranged within the cylindrical carrier t as hereinafter described. Conveniently the bracket M is mounted to rotate on or in one or more supports such as W formed or provided on the top plate it, ball or other antifriction bearings being provided to enable the bracket to revolve freely. In the typical example shown in Figure 1, a circular carrier member lit is screwed to the bottom of the bobbin bracket til and balls til are interposed between the member 66 and a ball race 6% carried by the supports 65. The bracket is driven from the cylindrical carrier t by means of a sleeve t9 to which the carrier is keyed and which is furnished with a tongue or tongues such as 69a adapted to enter a recess or recesses such as 6612 in .the carrier member 66. The said sleeve may also be used for raising and lowering the cylindrical carrier 6 and associated parts in relation to the needles to which the threads are to be supplied. To this end the sleeve maybe supported by lifting and lowering mechanism in connection with the main controlling including ball or other antifriction hearings to enable the sleeve to revolve freely. This mecha- .means e. g. chain or drum of the machine, and

nism as shown in Figures 1 and 15, conveniently take up their proper positions.

from the roller II is connected by a push rod H with another lever (not shown) acted upon by cam bits or like elements on the pattern drum or chain of the machine. The roller II enables the sleeve 69 to revolve freely and when the end -01 the lever 12 carryingsaid roller is lifted or lowered a corresponding movement is imparted to the sleeve. I

The means for leading the threads a from the bobbin bracket 60 to the thread guides I preferably consists of tubes, such as 15, through which the threads pass and each of which is vertically disposed within the sleeve 69 and bent at its lower end to face outwards and project through a hole or like aperture 69b formed at the bottom of said sleeve. In the alternative arrangement illustrated in Figure 16 for guiding the threads from the source of supply to the thread guides, the guiding means consist of perforated discs 16 spaced axially within the-sleeve 69 and supported so as to enable same to be withdrawn upwards from the sleeve to facilitate threading up. Conveniently there are three or more of these discs one fixed at the lower end of a rod 11 suspended eccentrically within the sleeve and the others slidably mounted and resting on shoulders 18a on a rod I8 depending centrally within the sleeve from-the bracket or like structure aforesaid. By withdrawing the eccentrically disposed rod H the lowest disc is first raised and then brought into contact with the slidable disc immediately above it. The slidable disc upon being slid upwards on the central rod 18 engages the next disc and so on if there are more than three so that eventually all are withdrawn from the sleeve together and the threads a can be easily threaded through the perforations therein, after which said discs can be dropped bacl: into the sleeve so that they In this arrangement, the sleeve 69 also .has holes or like apertures 69b at the lower end through which the threads are passed to the thread guides. In order to guide the threads 11 from the lower ends of the tubes, discs or passages as the case maybe to the extremities 2 of the guides I, the said threads are preferably passed through openings formed in a ring 32a pressed into the lower endof the top cylinder 32.

The cylindrical carrier 6 is preferably fitted as shown within the top needle cylinder 32 and the thread guides I supply their threads a to needles I knitting in the bottom cylinder 19 e. g. needles in alternate tricks in 1/1 rib knitting. To enable shogging of the thread guides to be efl'ected the cylindrical carrier 6 is fitted freely within the top cylinder 32 and is driven independently by separate driving gear which may receive its motion from the same shaft as the top cylinder. Conveniently the pinion 3'I hereinbefore referred to is freely mounted on the usual top cylinder driving shaft 36 and meshes with the gear ring 3i on the cylindrical carrier, said pinion having associated therewith the shogging mechanism previously described herein. The gear ring 80 on the top cylinder is furnished with grooved segments 8| secured by screws 82 and the cylindrical carrier 6 has a peripheral flange or rib 6a thereon which is received in the grooves in the segments (see Figure 1). The top cylinder 32 is driven from the shaft 36 by a pinion 33 adjustably mounted on the shaft as shown in Figure 12 so as to enable the needle tricks in said cylinder to be properly aligned with those in the bottom cylinder 19 as usual.

Provision may be made for nullifying the selective action of the pattern drum or equivalent means on the thread guides. For this purpose 10 and 11, a vertically movable cam 83 automatically controlled e. g. 'from the existing timing chain or drum of the machine, for action upon the upwardly extending butts I! of the guides I, said cam normally occupying a raised position as shown in full lines in Figure 11 and being lowered for engagement with the butts I! of selected guides (see Figure 10 and dotted position of cam in Figure 11) so that immediately after selection the said guides are rocked back to their original position. The cam 83 maybe used in conjunction with guides, substantially one half of which have long butts and the remainder short butts, so that by lowering the cam wholly the selective action can be nullified entirely and by partly lowering, the selective action can be partly nullified so as to produce half round pattern eifects e. g. patterned insteps in the application of the invention to a seamless hose machine. The said cam may also be rendered operative during heel and toe knitting. In the specific arrangement shown in Figures 8, 10, 11 and 19, the nullifying cam 63 is positioned between the two retracting cams I6 and I9 and is formed with a rearward extension 83a which is connected to 'a slide 64 by means of screws 65. The slide projects through and is adapted to move'vertically within a slot I la in the cam box extension l2 and is formed or provided with retaining flanges 64a. The nullifying cam is adapted to be raised against the action of a spring 86 and to be maintained in this position by a vertically disposed screw or like projection 81 mounted in or formed or provided on the free end of a small arm 88 on a vertical link or rod 89 controlled i. e. moved up and down to a slight extent at the appropriate times by linkage (not shown) which is in turn operated by the main controlling mechanism of the machine. The screw or like projection 81, the height of which is preferably adjustable, is arranged to act on an outwardly extending pin 90 on the slide. The link or rod 89 projects upwardly through the top plate I5 and a compression spring 6841 may, as shown in Figure 19, be arranged between the underside of the said plate and the arm 88. Thus, when the link or rod 89 is moved or allowed to move downward at the dictates of the main control ling mechanism, the slide 64 is lowered, and the nullifying cam is engaged with butts II as aforesaid. The slight downward movement of the slide is, of course, assisted by the spring 66.

It is found in practice that when the selective action of the guides I is nullified as, for example, in producing half round eflects, there is a tendency for one or more of the threads a of the guides which are rocked back to become wrapped round a needle or needles with the result that isolated embroidery stitches appear in what is intended to be a perfectly plain area. According to another improvement provision is made to counteractthis. To this end there is provided a thread guard adapted to be presented between the hooks of the needles I and the lower ends of the thread guides I at the selecting location at predetermined times to hold the selected embroidery threads back i. e. prevent same from passing between needles when the thread guiding extremities of the selected guides are projected. Consequently when such guides are rocked back to their original position none of the threads is lapped or wrapped round a needle. According to one ar- A I may provide, as indicated clearly in Figures 8,

rangeme'nt a movable guard normally held inopby or from themain controlling mechanism of the.

machine. Conveniently the stop is associated with the linkage through which the nullifying cam 93 is operated. I

In the specific arrangement shown in Figures 17, 18 and 19 and suitable for use in connection with the production of half round efiects, such as a plain foot bottom in a seamless half hose, the thread guard 9| which conveniently consists of a thin flat piece of metal somewhat of the shape shown in Figure 17, is rigidly secured to the underside, and at the free end, of an arm 92 pivoted at 93 on the feeder block 94 of the machine. The arm is under the control of aspring 95 which allows it to move into an operative position at the appropriate times, in which position the guard projects through a slot in the feeder plate 95. The movement of the arm 92 is limited in both directions by a screw 91 associated with the feeder block and against which the ends of a slot 92a in the said arm are adapted to abut. The free end of the arm 92 is connected by a rod 98 to a fork or bifurcated member 99 located below a half round cam I99 driven at cylinder speed and conveniently for this purpose mounted on the existing top cylinder driving shaft 36, as shown in Figure 12. On the member 99 is mounted a roller 99 (Fig. 18) which is engaged by the cam I99 as the shaft 35 rotates. To facilitate the connection of the rod 98 to the arm 92, the free end of the latter carries a downwardly extending pin I9I. The angular extent of the cam I99 may be varied by providing adis presented to a screw or like projection I94 in or on the pivoted arm 92, thereby allowing the guard to move into action and the roller 99 on the fork or bifurcated member 99 to be engaged by the half round cam I99. It will be understood that the guard 9| is moved in and out of action during each course of knitting when operative i. c. it is moved intoaction for the appropriate partial course and out for the remainder of the course at each revolution of the needle cylinders. When the guard is inoperative the screw or projection I94 engages the block I93 on one side of the notch I93a.

When the thread supplying means are applied to a seamless hose machine a cam, e. g. the cam 93, may be provided for action upon the upwardly extending butts ll of the thread guides I during reverse strokes of reciprocating knitting for the purpose of retracting any thread guides left in a projected position on the change I 96 freely mounted at the lower end of the sleeve 69 and supported by a bearing ring I9! which is screwed to said sleeve. Conveniently and as shown, the bits are kept in position by a retaining ring I98 and have thickened upper edges I95a for guiding the needles I and centralizing the bits. The bits I95 associated with those needles which knit the plain area when the fied are cut away to allow the thread guard 9| to go in between the needles I and associated thread guides when it is rendered operative for the purpose stated.

The pattern drum or equivalent means em,- ployed for controlling the operation of the thread 7 selective actuation of the thread guides I is nulli- I guides may be arranged for bodily movement out of its operative position so as to enable patterning to be suspended for prearranged intervals. For example, and as shown in Figures 1 and 19, this movement may be effected from the main controlling means of the machine through the vertical link or rod 89. For this purpose the upper end of the said link or rod is connected to a lever I99 pivoted on or in a small bracket II9 mounted on the top plate I5. The free end of this lever is arranged to project between two stationary guiding blocks II I on the top plate and an operating member H2, which is bent as shown in Figure 1 for the purpose hereinafter set forth, is carried by the lever. The member H2 extends substantially at right angles to the length of the lever I99 and projects downwardly between a pair of rollers II3 carried by two bifurcated lugs H4 formed on a bracket II5. This bracket is secured, by means of a bolt I I 6, to a sliding block I" adapted to be moved horizontally between suitable guideways in the top plate I5. The block I I1 is formed with longitudinal flanges Illa which engage the underside of the top plate and prevent the block, and hence also the bracket 5, from being displaced upwardly. The front ends of the bracket I5 and the block II! are formed with a common open-ended slot I I 9 for the reception of the upper end of the spindle 29a of the pattern drum 29. The drum 29 is, in effect, suspended from the front end of the bracket I I5 and is adapted to be secured in position by a nut 29b which isscrewed on to the aforesaid upper end of the spindle 29a. The arrangement just described is such that when the vertical link or rod 89 is moved in a downward direction at the prearranged times, the lever I99'is pulled down with the result that the bent operating member H2 acts between the rollers II3 and moves-the bracket 5 together with the sliding block III outward, i. e. away from the axis of the machine. In this manner the pattern drum is moved bodily out of its operative position. Conversely, when the said link or rod is returned to its uppermost position, the operating member H2 moves the bracket and the sliding block in the opposite (ii-- rection so that the drum again moves into its operative position.

Alternatively blufling means may be provided in association with the racking mechanism for rendering the latter inoperative for the stated purpose. The racking mechanism may, instead of being controlled from the cam 29 aforesaid, be controlled from the timing chain or main control drum of the machine or from an auxiliary chain or drum racked round at every course of knitting.

Instead of the nullifying cam 83 being rendered operative in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 8, 10, 11 and 19, the pin 90 on the slide 84 associated with said cam may have a downwardly extending part 90a which is arranged to be acted on by a cam IIS on a segment or, as shown, a sector I20 mounted on the cam box extension I2 and operable by a vertical link or rod (e. g. the link or rod 89) from the main controlling means.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated with reference to Figures 21, 22 and 23, the thread guides I are adapted to operate with a movement radially with respect to the needle circle and with movement in the direction of their length in relation to corresponding deflecting elements or bits I 2I. To this end the thread guides are mounted for both pivotalor rocking movement and sliding movement in the cylindrical carrier 6. Each guide is provided with a lateral lug or like projection I22 for contact with a corresponding deflecting element or bit I2I. The said guides, moreover, are movable radially and lengthwise so that upon actuation thereof the lower extremity of each crosses the needle circle first on one side of the corresponding needle or group of needles and then back on the other side by reason of lateral deflection achieved by the lengthwise movement of the guides in relation to the deflecting elements or bits I2I so that the thread supplied to the guide is lapped or Wrapped round the desired needle or group of needles. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention the deflecting elements are additional to the needles. The deflecting elements or bits I2I are,

in the specific example illustrated in Figure 21,

, iacent elements or bits I 2| whereby the lateral deflection is effected. The normal position of a guide in relation to the corresponding element or bit I2I is shown in full lines in Figure 22, while the position of said guide after it has been laterally deflected is indicated in dot and dash lines in the same figure. Instead of being attached to the cylindrical carrier 6, the dial, ring or like member I23 may be independently mounted and, in either event, may be arranged for ad- Justment in a circular direction so as to enable the elements or bits I2I to be accurately set in relation to the thread guides prior to being flxed in positon. Selected guides may be moved radially in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with the first-mentioned form of the invention and cam means of any suitable form (not shown) may be provided formoving selected guides lengthwise to effect lateral deflection thereof and restoring said guides to their original position longitudinally in the cylindrical carrier when this form of the invention is employed,

it is preferred to'modify the knitting cam system for the needles so that the latter are caused to descend with the guides I when the latter are lowered until the lower ends of the selected guides are deflected, but are raised before the said guides are retracted so as to be in a position to receive the threads a to be lapped or wrapped round them. The purpose of this is to prevent the deflected lower ends of the guides from being brought into contact with the needle hooks and possibly damaging same. Conveniently, and as shown in Figure 24, a downward projection I2la is provided upon the usual centre guard cam I24 and an upward projection I25a is provided upon the lower guard cam I25 at the Ittd 0! @0 eed of the machine according as to whether the machine has a single feed or two or more feeds, 1. e. a point or points atwhich the main yarn or yarns is or are supplied and knitted.

When applied to a seamless hose machine the 5 cam aforesaid which effects downward movement of the guides I may be arranged for movement up and down so as to enable it to be raised to an inoperative postiion at the commencement of reciprocatory knitting so that the guides are not- 10 moved up and down during the formation of heels and toes. This cam may be controlled either independently or conjointly with the nullifying cam 83 from the main controlling mechanism of the machine. 15

In a knitting machine for producing seamless hosiery and having the modified form of the invention applied thereto, the reverse stitch cam I26 (Figure 24) may be pivotally mounted owin to the fact that the centre guard cam I24 is 0 formed so as to lower the needles more than usual to enable thread lapping or wrapping to be effected. This cam I26 is connected with the reverse raising picker (not shown) so that should the cam tend to stick after yielding during the 25 vide cam means adapted to operate the thread 30 guides seriatim instead of selectively for the purpost of imparting the radial movement thereto. and to provide in association with the needles to which the patterning threads are to be supplied, needle selecting means, for example pattern controlled variable needle selecting means, for selectively operating the needles so that embroidery or patterning threads are lapped or wrapped around the selected needles in spite of the fact that the guides are operated seriatim as'aforesaid. Any 40 suitable needle selecting means,,of which there are many known forms, may be used for the intended purpose.

In rib knitting on a machine of the superposed needle cylinder type needles may be transferred 4 from the top cylinder 32 to the bottom cylinder 19 while thread lapping or wrapping takes place and said needles may be immediately transferred back to the top cylinder or left in the bottom cylinder.

If desired the whole of the patterning head may be arranged so as to be readily removable to fa cilitate threading up.

The invention is advantageously applicable to a machine of the double cylinder type wherein 55 provision is made for changing from plain to rib knitting and vice versa as it enables hose, half-hose and like articles having a rib top and a plain i. e. non-rib leg or a fully ribbed hose having desired parts thereof ornamented by lap or wrap striping threads producing vertical stripes, broken designs, diagonal and zig-zag effects, clocks, spots and like effects, to be produced in a fully continuous manner on the same machine. The pattern or ornamental effects may be chine. double axially opposed needle cylinders, in

dependent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each-provided with a thread guiding extremity, said elements being 7 acumen arranged to extend in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders, and adapted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles, whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, and means for efiecting the radial movements of the thread guides. l

2. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle-cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to cornprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements, each provided .with a thread guiding extremity which extend at an angle from the main portion of the blade, a cylindrica-l bed in which the thread guides are mounted, said guides being mounted for. movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle, conjointly with lateral deflection oi the guides in relation to corresponding needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, and means for eflecting the radial movements of the thread guides.

3. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with at thread guiding extremity which is distorted l laterally, said elements being arranged to extend in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and adapted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the laterally distorted thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles, which movement is produced as the result of co-action of said extremities with the needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, and means for eilectlng the radial movements of the thread guides.

4. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, a cylindrical bed in which the-thread guides are mounted, each of said guides having a laterally projecting part and being mounted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying its thread across the needle circle, a series of elements for co-operating with the laterally projecting parts of the thread guides and efiecting lateral deflection of the respective guides in relation to corresponding needles during radial movement of the guides whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, and means for eifecting the radial movements of the said thread guides. V

5. A combination according to claim 1, where'- in. means are provided for moving selected thread guides slightly towards the needles to be lapped for the purpose herein set forth.

.6. In combination in a circular knitting ma-..

chine, superposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising a circu-v lar series of individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity which extends at an angle from the main portion of the blade, a longitudinally tricked cylindrical carrier for the guides located concentrically within the top cylinder, said guides being mounted for movement radially in the carrier for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with lateral deflection of the guides in relation to corresponding needles in the bottom cylinder whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, said guides being also normally positioned vertically above the said needles with their lower extremities disposed radially, and means for effectirfg the radial movements of the thread guides.

7. In combination in a ircular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the .kind herein referred to comprising, individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements which are contrastingly formed and each provided with a thread guiding extremity, a cylindrical bed in which the thread guides are mounted for rocking movement, a series of selecting cams whereby thread guides are selected and moved radially in one direction for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for automatically selecting said cams for action upon the thread guides according to pattern requirements, and cam means for moving selected guides radially in the opposite direction.

8. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, said elements being arranged to extend in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and adapted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles, whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for eflecting the radial movements of the thread guides, and means for varying the relative positions of the thread guides and the needles laterally so that said guides can supply threads to dliferent needles.

9. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, said elements being arranged to extend in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and adapted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles, whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for effecting the radial movements of the thread guides, and means for nullifying the patterning action and restricting the patterning eiIect to prearranged needles.

10. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axiallyopposed needle cylinders, independent. needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides cons sting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity which extends at an angle from the main portion of the blade, said guides being mounted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle, conjointly with lateral deflection of the guides in relation to corresponding needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for effecting the radial movements of the thread guides, a cylindrical carrier in which the thread guides are mounted, a sleeve depending from an upper part of the machine and upon which the cylindrical carrier is rotatably mounted, and means for driving the cylindrical carrier at a speed equal to the cylinder speed.

11. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity which extends at an angle from the main portion of the blade, said guides being mounted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle, conjointly with lateral deflection of the guides in relation to corresponding needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for effecting the radial movements of the thread guides, a cylindrical carrier in which the thread guides are mounted, a driving shaft, a. pinion freely mounted on said shaft for driving the cylindrical carrier, said pinion having thereon parts or members, and a driving member keyed to the shaft and adapted to act between the said parts or members for the purpose of imparting independent turning movement to the pinion as well as driving it, and means for axially adjusting the driving member in an automatic manner, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the driving member consists 01' a reel slidabiy keyed on the driving shaft and furnished with opposed formations and wherein the said means for axially adjusting the driving member comprise a pattern controlled sliding member carrying rollers adapted to engage the opposed formations and means for moving the sliding member-to different positions radially with respect to the axis of the shaft.

13. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements which are contrastingly formed and each provided with a thread guiding extremity, a cylindrical bed in which the thread guides are mounted for rocking movement, a series of selecting cams whereby thread guides are selected and moved radially in one direction for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between thethread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for automatically selecting said cams for action upon the thread guides according to pattern requirements, cam means for moving selected guides radially in the opposite direction, means for shogging the thread guides laterally over the needles so that said guides can supply threads to different needles,

said shogging means being controlled from the same source as the selective operation of the thread guides.

14. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides 'consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity which extends at an angle from the main portion of the blade, a cylindrical bed in which the thread guides are mounted, said guides being mounted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle, conjointly with lateral deflection of the guides in relation to corresponding needles whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for effecting the radial movements of the thread guides, a number of bobbins from which the additional threads are supplied to the thread guides, a bracket arranged above the cylindrical bed and adapted to carry the bobbins, and guiding means for the threads arranged within said cylindrical bed.

15. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread. guides consisting of bladelike elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, said elements being arranged to extend in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and adapted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles, whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, means for effecting the radial movements of the thread guides, means for nullifying the patterning action and restricting the patterning effect to prearranged needles, a movable thread guard, and means for moving said guard and presenting it between the hooks of the needles and the thread guides at the selecting location at predetermined times for the purpose herein set forth.

16. In combination in a circular knitting machine, controlling mechanism ,for said machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting 6f blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, said elements being arranged to extend in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and adapted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying their threads across the needle circle conjointly with relative lateral movement between the thread guiding extremities and the adjacent hooked ends of corresponding needles, whereby accuse tive position at said times, and means for rotating said cam in timed relation with the needle cylinders.

17. In combination in a circular knitting ma-v chine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, a cylindrical carrier in which the thread guides are slidably mounted, each thread guide having a laterally projecting part and being also mounted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying its thread across the needle circle, a series of elements arranged in proximity to the thread guiding extremities of the thread guides and adapted to co-operate with the laterally projecting parts of said guides to efiect lateral deflection of the respective guides in relation to corresponding needles as the result of relative lengthwise movement between the guides and the said elements, means for effecting the radial movements of the guides and cam means for moving the guides lengthwise to efiect the required lateral deflectionthereof and to restore said guides to their original position longitudinally in conjunction with the radial movements whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles.

18. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in. said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising individually movable thread guides consisting of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding extremity, a cylindrical carrier in which the thread guides are slidably mounted, each thread guide having a laterally projecting part and being also mounted for movement radially for the purpose of carrying its thread across the needle circle, a series of elements arranged in proximity to the thread guiding extremities of the thread guides and adapted to co-operate with the laterally projecting parts of said guides to effect lateral deflection of the respective guides in relation to corresponding needles as the result of relative lengthwise movement between the guides and the said elements, means for effecting the radial movements of the guides, cam means for moving the guides lengthwise to effect the required lateral deflection thereof and to restore said guides to their original position longitudinally in conjunction with, the radial movements whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, and meansior moving the needles lengthwise with the guides until the thread guiding extremities are deflected and for moving said needles in the opposite direction before the guides are returned to their original positions subsequent to carrying their threads across the needle circle so that the needles are in a position to receive the threads to be lapped.

19. In combination in a circular knitting machine, double axially opposed needle cylinders, independent needles in said cylinders, patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising a circular series of individually movable thread guides, a grooved cylinder in which said thread guides are pivotally and slidably mounted, each thread guide consisting of a blade-like element and being furnished. with a thread guiding extremity which is laterally distorted and extends at an angle from the main portion of the blade, a fulcrum, at least two front butts above the fulcrum, and an upwardly extending butt at the opposite end to the yarn engaging extremity, selecting means arranged above the fulcrum for action on the front butts of the thread guides whereby selected jacks are pressed inwardabove the fulcrum so that their thread guiding extremities are projected radially outward with respect to the needles whereby the threads are carried across the needle circle from the inside to the outside conjointly with lateral deflection of the selected guides in one direction in relation to corresponding needles which deflection is produced as the result of co-action of the laterally distorted thread guiding extremities with adjacent hooked ends of the corresponding needles, cam means which by action on the said upwardly extending butts move the selected threa/d guides radially in the opposite direction conjointly with lateral deflection of said guides in the opposite direction, whereby the threads are lapped around desired needles, and cam means for action on one of the front butts of each of the selected guides whereby the latter are slightly lowered and then raised, for the purpose herein set forth.

20. A thread guide for use in patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to comprising a stem, a thread guiding extremity at one end of and extending at an angle from the stem, said extremity being distorted laterally, at least one butt on one edge of the stem for engagement with a selecting cam, said stem having a fulcrum point on the opposite edge, a main butt above the fulcrum point for engagement with a cam for imparting endwise movement to the thread guide, and an upwardly extending butt at the end of the guide remote from the thread guiding extremity for engagement with an actuating cam.

21. A thread guide for use in patterning mechanism of the kind herein referred to, comprising a stem, a thread guiding extremity at one end of the stem, a laterally projecting part near the thread guiding extremity for co-operation with a deflecting element, at least one butt on one edge of the stem for engagement with a selecting cam, a main butt on said edge for engagement with a cam for imparting endwise movement to the thread guide, and an upwardly extending butt at the other end of the stem for engagement with an actuating cam.

ALFRED WOODWARD KENT. 

